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Living in
Chester.
Chester is an unincorporated community in Chesterfield County, VA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Chester
Chester is a community of 23,519 people in Virginia. The median household income is $95,104, median rent runs about $1,603 per month, and median home values are around $327,200. Unemployment is low at 3.2%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Chester at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.1%
Foreign-Born
6.7%
Broadband Internet
93.2%
of households
Population Growth
+6.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.7% foreign-born, most often from El Salvador
Who lives in Chester: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Chester, the largest foreign-born group is from El Salvador (27.1%), and 10.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
25.4%
of residents
65 and Older
15.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
36.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
23.0%
of households
Married Couples
48.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.61
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for VA
Rent, home values, and income in Chester
In Chester, home values are 15% below the VA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
19.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
97.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,470
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
71.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1990
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $391,335 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for VA
Unemployment in Chester and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Chesterfield County, which includes Chester, is close to the VA average.
Unemployment rate
Chester: Chesterfield County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Chesterfield County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Chester Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Richmond, VA metro area
Commute27.8 min avg
How Chester residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Chester, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 62% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
Richmond International Airport (RIC)
Medium hub2.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 106 mi
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Major hub12.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 51% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Chesterfield County Police Department, which covers Chester, runs 51% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
160.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,156.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Chesterfield County Police Department (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 28 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
84.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Chesterfield County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Chesterfield County, which includes Chester, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 28 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | $189,250 |
| 2024 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $73,000 |
| 2023 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $97,000 |
| 2022 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $51,500 |
| 2021 | 26 | Flash Flood | $134,000 |
| 2020 | 22 | Heavy Rain | $51,000 |
| 2019 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $34,000 |
| 2018 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.0M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Chesterfield County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Chesterfield County, which includes Chester, is typically good — 294 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
294
per year
Moderate Days
70
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Chesterfield County, county-wide
Climate87°F summers, 29°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Chester has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and cold winters (avg low 29°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
70°/46°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
72°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
51°/29°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.3"
Annual Snowfall
3.5"
Hot Days/Year
44
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
85
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
115
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49°F | 28°F | 3.02" |
| Feb | 52°F | 29°F | 2.70" |
| Mar | 60°F | 36°F | 4.37" |
| Apr | 70°F | 46°F | 3.62" |
| May | 78°F | 55°F | 4.37" |
| Jun | 86°F | 64°F | 4.23" |
| Jul | 89°F | 69°F | 4.70" |
| Aug | 87°F | 67°F | 5.31" |
| Sep | 82°F | 61°F | 4.63" |
| Oct | 72°F | 48°F | 3.41" |
| Nov | 62°F | 37°F | 3.16" |
| Dec | 53°F | 31°F | 3.47" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Chester
Uninsured
6.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Chester's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
John Randolph Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.1 mi away · Hopewell
Richmond VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 9.7 mi away · Richmond
Cjw Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.8 mi away · Richmond
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Chester
Chester's student/teacher ratio is 14.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 33.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
33.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Chester (within 15 miles)
Virginia Commonwealth University
13.4 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 20,753 students · in-state tuition $17,490 · 68% graduate · median earnings $64,442 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,203 students · in-state tuition $19,660 · 41% graduate · median earnings $44,816 (10 yrs after entry)
Galen Health Institutes-Richmond
11.3 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 454 students · in-state tuition $17,984 · median earnings $69,188 (10 yrs after entry)
Southside College of Health Sciences
6.6 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 2-year · 151 students · 78% graduate · median earnings $77,002 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Petersburg National Battlefield, 12 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Chester
Chester has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Petersburg National Battlefield (12 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Petersburg National Battlefield
National Battlefield
12 mi awayRichmond National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
12 mi awayMaggie L Walker National Historic Site
National Historic Site
13 mi awayHistoric Jamestowne Part of Colonial National Historical Park
Part of Colonial National Historical Park
39 mi awayColonial National Historical Park
National Historical Park
46 mi awayYorktown Battlefield Part of Colonial National Historical Park
Part of Colonial National Historical Park
53 mi awayGreen Springs
National Park Site
62 mi awayFredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park
National Military Park
65 mi awayPublic Libraries in Chester
Chester Library
11800 Centre Street, Chester
Cities Near Chester
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Chester?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Chester FAQ
Is Chester, Virginia affordable?⌄
Chester's median rent is $1,603/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $95,104/year. Median home value is $327,200.
Is Chester, Virginia safe?⌄
Chester is policed by the Chesterfield County Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 161 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1157 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Chester, Virginia?⌄
Chesterfield County, which includes Chester, has an unemployment rate of 3.2%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Chester, Virginia?⌄
The cost of living in Chester is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,603/month and median household income is $95,104/year. The median home value is $327,200. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Chester, Virginia?⌄
The average commute in Chester is 28 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from